I got an email yesterday from Bishop Steve Maina.

“Assigned Project! Let Me Know Once You Receive This Email Right Now. Thanks…”

A few red flags stood out to me – weird email address, poor grammar and just an odd way to approach me in the first place.

Of course, it wasn’t Bishop Steve. It was a scammer.

This particular tactic is called “phishing”. It's like "fishing" but with a “ph” for added mystery. Instead of fish, they catch your passwords and credit card numbers. It typically involves an attacker posing as a trustworthy entity, like a reputable organisation or a colleague – even a bishop – to gain the victim's trust. 

According to CERT NZ, scams and fraud accounted for $17.1 million in direct financial losses in 2022. Unfortunately, reports of phishing have gone up 16% since 2021. And in the first quarter of 2023, financial losses due to cybercrime surged by a whopping 66%!

A few others in the Anglican Centre here have received emails like mine from “Bishop Steve”. Over the pond, Sydney Anglicans say at least six of their churches have been targeted by similar phishing scams this year. 

Sometimes, they’re not so easy to identify. I had an Instagram message last month from a stranger who wanted me to pray for him, as he wanted to convert to Christianity from Islam in a country hostile to the faith. I suspected it was a scam, but continued in conversation with him for a few days. It wasn’t until about a week in that he asked for money because he’d been kicked out of his house for being a Christian. This turns out to be another common scam tactic. I found stories on the internet with the exact same details – even down to the amount he asked for: $300.

Scammers manipulate people's empathy, capitalising on their compassion, generosity and even faith to gain trust.

How can we identify potential scams?

• Unverified sender: If you receive an email or text from someone you know with an unfamiliar address or number, contact the person through other means to confirm their message's legitimacy. 
• Unsolicited contact: If the initial message is unsolicited and can’t be independently verified, this is often a sign that something’s amiss.
• Unusual requests: Scammers often pressure victims into immediate action. If something feels rushed or lacks context, approach it with caution.
• Suspicious language: Pay attention to the language and grammar used in the message. Scammers may use unconventional language that raises suspicions.

If in doubt, give it a quick internet search or check out CERT NZ's list of common threats. Always be especially wary of messages that request money or personal financial information. 

Stay vigilant, whānau!